Feed these machines plastic and they'll feed stray animals

The vending machines have dry feed and water bowls for the 150,000 strays in Istanbul

Pugedo

Istanbul's stray animals will find a meal for themselves every
time its residents recycle a plastic bottle through one of the
city's new vending machines.

The machines -- made and installed by Pugedon -- dispense a small
amount of kibble and drinking water for one of the city's 150,000
stray cats or dogs whenever one of its 14 million humans inserts a
water bottle.

Strays in Istanbul are a common sight, and the world's eighth
largest city has been home to one of the largest roaming animal
populations as far back as 1910, when Sultan Mehmed V ordered 80,000 strays to be rounded up and
taken to the nearby island of Sivriada. However, an earthquake
shortly after was seen as divine retribution for abandoning the
dogs to die of thirst and hunger.

This lesson hasn't remained in the minds of the current
administration, as the Turkish government continues to collect and
deposit hundreds of strays in forested regions on the outskirts of
the city, forcing animal-loving locals to trek out to the sticks
and feed their furry compatriots. But Pugedon is easing the burden
on the state, as the company has specifically stated that no
government money will be required to run the scheme.

The food is paid for by proceeds from recycling the plastic each
machine collects, so as long as citizens do their civil duty in
keeping the streets clean and the planet green, the strays are
looked after until they can be properly adopted. That said, the
streets aren't a terrible place for cats and dogs, which residents
refer to as "social animals" as they have adapted to urban
environments, even stopping at roadsides until crossing lights go
green.